CancerFree KIDS

What CancerFree KIDS does

CancerFree KIDS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 2003 by Ellen and Sam Flannery after their infant daughter's retinoblastoma diagnosis. The organization's sole mission is to fund early-stage, high-risk pediatric cancer research that traditional sources will not underwrite, focusing grant dollars at two anchor institutions: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (which received $1 million in 2025) and Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus ($650,000 in 2025). The grant portfolio is split between New Idea Awards, which fund bold concepts at the earliest stage of discovery, and Accelerator Awards, which provide follow-on capital to researchers who have generated promising preliminary data from a prior New Idea Award. Over 23 years, the organization has awarded 265 grants totaling $12.5 million, with cited downstream impact of approximately $114 million in subsequent researcher funding from other sources — an asserted 10:1 return on investment.

The organization's business model is event-driven community fundraising with diversified revenue streams. Four signature events anchor the model: Night for the Fight (a 12-hour overnight event for over 1,000 high school students), Butterfly Walk (a spring family event at the Cincinnati Zoo, founded in 2006–2007 by the Paribello family in memory of daughter Hanna), the 100 Mile Challenge (a 30-day fitness and fundraising initiative during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month), and Celebration of Courage (an annual dinner, auction, and concert gala). Supporting revenue streams include monthly recurring giving, individual donations, named research grants (legacy giving), corporate sponsorships (Gold Level and event underwriting), a Visionary Society leadership giving tier at $5,000+ annually, a Founders Circle at $1,000+ annually in Columbus, an Ambassador Program at $100, and DIY/peer-to-peer fundraising via Facebook, Echoage, and custom pages. Distribution relies on a lean 15–20 person staff (per stated headcount data), a Cincinnati Board of Trustees, an inaugural Columbus Board of Directors, a Central Ohio Managing Director, and a Champion Families program of families affected by childhood cancer who serve as storytellers and advocates.

CancerFree KIDS' research focus addresses a structural market gap: less than 8% of federally funded cancer research is directed to pediatric cancers, only 76 FDA-approved drugs have been created specifically for pediatric cancer versus 700 for adults, and childhood cancer survivors face a 95% lifetime incidence of significant health issues by age 45. The organization's model of concentrating funds at two top-tier pediatric research hospitals differentiates it from broader childhood cancer charities and underwrites a self-reinforcing flywheel where proven early-stage results attract larger NIH and institutional follow-on grants.

Name

CancerFree KIDS

Legal name

CancerFree KIDS

Website

https://cancerfreekids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CancerFree KIDS is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that funds early-stage pediatric cancer research at Cincinnati Children's and Nationwide Children's hospitals. It raises capital through signature events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and leadership giving tiers, having awarded $12.5M across 265 grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Loveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly giving program where donors maximize their investment in childhood cancer research through regular contributions.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from signature events including Night for the Fight, Butterfly Walk, Celebration of Courage, 100 Mile Challenge, and community events. Events include attendee fees, auction proceeds, and fundraising targets.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners achieve marketing goals through cause marketing programs, event sponsorships, employee engagement, matching programs, and tailored fundraising campaigns. Sponsorship tiers include Gold Level and other levels.
4. Named Research Grants: Donors and organizations can have research grants named in their honor or memory, creating a legacy giving opportunity that directly funds specific pediatric cancer research projects at Cincinnati Children's and Nationwide Children's hospitals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CancerFree KIDS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds through signature events, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships to award early-stage pediatric cancer research grants (New Idea Awards and Accelerator Awards) to researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Product overview

CancerFree KIDS is a nonprofit organization that functions as a research funding platform rather than a commercial product company. The organization operates a portfolio of fundraising events (Night for the Fight, Butterfly Walk, 100 Mile Challenge, Celebration of Courage, Celebration of Courage Columbus) that generate donations to fund early-stage pediatric cancer research grants. These grants are awarded as New Idea Awards for bold concepts in earliest discovery stages and Accelerator Awards for researchers who have shown promising results. The organization also runs Champion Family and Visionary Society programs for community engagement, Columbus Programs for Central Ohio expansion, and patient support offerings including blankets, mascot gifts, and Hope Drop gifts. DIY fundraising tools allow supporters to create custom campaigns through Facebook, Echoage, and tribute pages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Night for the Fight: A 12-hour overnight event engaging over 1,000 students from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in the fight against pediatric cancer.
• Butterfly Walk
• 100 Mile Challenge
• Celebration of Courage
• Celebration of Courage Columbus

Products and services

• New Idea Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• $10.85M invested → $114M in subsequent researcher funding (10:1 ROI)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Primary research grant recipient and partner. In 2025, CancerFree KIDS awarded $1 million to Cincinnati Children's, the largest single-institution grant in the organization's history. Researchers include those working on AML, neurofibromatosis, hepatoblastoma, leukemia therapy, and other pediatric cancer research. The organization is the leading funder of early-stage pediatric cancer research at this institution.
• Nationwide Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Primary research grant recipient in Columbus market. In 2025, CancerFree KIDS awarded $650,000 to Nationwide Children's for research including Off-The-Shelf CAR-T therapy, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, gliomas, and Epstein-Barr Virus. The organization is expanding its presence in Columbus with inaugural Columbus Board and Managing Director.
• Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancerFree KIDS is a founding member of CAC2, collaborating with other pediatric cancer organizations to advocate for legislation accelerating childhood cancer research on a national level. CancerFree KIDS refers families to CAC2's Hope Portal and Better Together directories for patient support and survivorship resources.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hyundai Hope on Wheels: Corporate-affiliated pediatric cancer research grantmaker awarding grants to institutional researchers nationwide. Comparable mission and grantee model, though backed by a single corporate sponsor.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: National nonprofit funding pediatric cancer research through institutional grants and collaborative research initiatives. Directly comparable grantmaking mission focused exclusively on childhood cancers.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Peer-driven (peer-to-peer fundraising) childhood cancer research grantmaker operating nationally. Highly comparable model on the donor-engagement and early-stage research-funding dimensions.
• Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation: Funds cutting-edge pediatric cancer research at leading institutions and runs community fundraising events. Directly comparable in mission and hospital-partnership model.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: Funds pediatric cancer research and supports the Children's Oncology Group, with national fundraising and event programs. Same beneficiary population and research-funding mission as CancerFree KIDS.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: One of the largest U.S. funders of childhood cancer research, awarding grants to researchers at leading pediatric hospitals and operating a national fundraising infrastructure. Directly comparable mission, model, and beneficiary base as CancerFree KIDS.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: Volunteer- and event-driven (head-shaving events) pediatric cancer research grantmaker funding early-stage research across multiple U.S. institutions. Highly comparable operating model, scale, and beneficiary population.

Broad incumbents

• The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Major cancer research funder (broader scope including adult cancers) founded on the legacy of Jim Valvano. Operates overlapping research-grantmaking capability but at materially larger scale and across all cancer types.
• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, funding research across all cancer types including pediatric. Overlaps with CancerFree KIDS on the research-grantmaking and donor-engagement dimensions but at vastly greater scale and broader scope.

Others

• Children's Oncology Group: National cooperative pediatric cancer research consortium of hospitals running clinical trials. Not a direct fundraising competitor; an ecosystem participant where CancerFree KIDS-funded researchers may ultimately land.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cancerfreekids
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cancerfreekids7392/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/cancerfreekids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cancerfreekids
• Instagraminstagram.com/cancerfreekids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CancerFree KIDS